Wareham Special Olympics softball comes from behind to take gold

The Wareham Wild Viking softball squad came from five runs back in their final at bat to pull out an 11-9 win over Whitney.

The game was on Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Special Olympics regional championships in Whitman.

First baseman Tim Spellman lined a triple to right center to plate the tying and go ahead runs, and then trotted home himself on a Zac Cacciolfi single a few moments later to close out the scoring.

Tamsin Collum and Lily Tigano sandwiched walks around a strikeout to open Wareham’s final at bat. Shortstop Michael Hogan then lined a single to load the bases, setting the stage for centerfielder Jake Webb’s blast to deep left to clear the bases. 

The grand slam cut the Whitney lead 9-8.

Peyton Forester followed with a shot of his own to left, good for a triple, and Audrey Heur followed that by working a walk. 

Spellman then plated both of them with his triple to complete the comeback.

Cacciolfi went the distance on the mound, scattering 10 hits and two walks while striking out three.

Wareham also won the tourney opener over Scituate, 17-3, with Zac Cacciolfi and Michael Hogan splitting mound duty.  

Coach Mike Spellman credited defense and pitching for the Gold Medal effort.

“We spend a lot of time working with the defense in practice and on situational awareness,” Spellman said. “We’ve been getting a ton of force outs in games, which keep the force in play. Those are often easier outs. And our outfielders have been doing an outstanding job of getting in front of the ball and getting the ball back quickly into the infield.”

Manning the infield for the weekend were Spellman at first base, Mia Gerekce and Matt Harlow at second base, Heur and Nolan Ferry at third base and Hogan at shortstop. Forester and Collum split the catching duties.

Jake Webb anchored the outfield in center, but he had lots of help from his brother Kyle Webb, Nick Ferry and Tiagano.

Hogan also paced the offense with two home runs, a triple, a single and a walk for the weekend.

The shortstop knocked in four runs and scored five.

Spellman (5 runs, 5 runs batted in) and Forester (5 runs, 3 runs batted in) led the hit parade, each going 5-for-5.

Jake Webb was also perfect at the plate, with two home runs, a triple, 5 runs and team best 8 rbi.

Also perfect at the plate were Cacciolfi (3-for-3, 2 walks, 3 runs, 3 runs batted in) and Heur (2-for-2, 3 walks, 5 runs, 2 runs batted in)

Nick Ferry finished 3 for 4 with a walk and his brother Nolan walked all five at bats for the weekend. 

Harlow added a couple of hits, Kyle Webb a double and Collum two walks and a hit.

The Wild Vikings now advance to the state Special Olympics championship in Marlboro Saturday, Aug. 16.